Thirteen years ago, 49-year-old Elizabeth Burgos immigrated from El Salvador for the dream of a better life. As one of the more than two million Salvadorans that now call the United States home, Burgos is taking her dream a step further by opening a business to help all Americans protect what they’ve worked so hard for.
Burgos will open Brightway, The Burgos Agency insurance office in Kingston Tuesday. “Coming to the states required me to work incredibly hard. It wasn’t just about learning my business, it was about tackling barriers,” Burgos said.
Today, more than 200,000 Salvadorans call New York home. However, fewer than half of that population is fluent in the English language. “It keeps us from doing so much. I believe that a lot of the Spanish-speaking population needs help. They aren’t being advised well and don’t know what they really need. Having a Hispanic-speaking specialist is a big deal.”
Coming from the poorest nation in Central America, Burgos knew she’d have to beat the odds to improve her life and make a difference. Coming to the United States was her best chance at making that dream a reality. Approximately 60 percent of those still living in El Salvador are doing so in poverty.
For more than a decade, Burgos’ first job in El Salvador was as a sales representative for an international innovation firm. When she came to the U.S. in 2009, she continued her career with a 10-year stint in marketing and sales with a global technology group. “When I finally got into insurance, it was in a sales capacity and I had to work extremely hard at improving my English,” Burgos added. “Knowing how real that struggle was told me that it was even harder for others in my community who didn’t speak English at all. So, that became my goal. To do better so they could do better, too.”
Now officially holding her license to sell insurance in New York, Burgos’ Aaron Court office in Kingston will primarily serve Duchess-Ulster and Orange County. Burgos holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Francisco Gavidia University in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Married for more than 30 years, Burgos is proud of her family. “I have a daughter in nursing and a son who hopes to be an engineer one day,” Burgos said. “I truly want to build this business into something special for the community. Something that makes a difference for everyone who came here for a better life.”
Brightway, The Burgos Agency offers customized Home, Flood, Auto, Boat, Condo, Renters, Personal Articles, RV, Motorcycle, Umbrella, and Life insurance policies from numerous insurance companies. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EDT) and Saturday/Sunday by appointment. Visit them online at BrightwayBurgos.com or call 845-262-6040.
Brightway’s corporate office staff provides expertise and support in areas including customer service, technology, accounting, marketing, distribution and business analytics. In addition, Brightway handles carrier relations and appointments, as well as support with personnel hiring, licensing, onboarding, training and retention. The company’s signature after-the-sale service empowers Agency Owners, like Burgos, to focus on new business sales and provide customers the personalized service they deserve.
About Brightway Insurance
Established in 2008, Brightway grew to become one of the largest privately-owned property/casualty insurance distribution companies in the U.S. with over 300 franchises in 30 states and over $900 million in annual premiums. Recently, Brightway’s success led to a private equity investment that has infused the company with financial and human capital, and data and analytics access, to accelerate growth and deliver new and exciting market opportunities.
Brightway produces winning outcomes for franchisees and their customers by offering access to customized coverage solutions from a range of insurers paired with full back office and marketing support. This winning model allows agents and producers to focus on addressing the needs of their customers to become trusted advisors and grow their businesses.